Nyayo Tea boss replaced despite State directive

By MOSES NJAGIH

The managing director of the Nyayo Tea Zones Development Corporation has been replaced despite recommendations by the board and the Head of Public Service to re-appoint her.

Agriculture Minister Sally Kosgei and her Permanent Secretary Romano Kiome turned down the advice to retain Dr Anne Kinyua on grounds of her impressive performance.

Apart from the credentials in performance contracting, the board in a letter to Dr Kiome dated December 19, 2011, cited her achievements, among them the negotiation for the Sh2.8 billion funding for Green Zone project, an increase in annual green leaf production and her initiation of the construction of the corporation’s Kipchabo Tea Factory, increasing the corporation’s revenue base, as strong basis to recommend her.

“It is the consideration of the above and also for the sake of continuity that the board decided unanimously to strongly recommend for re-appointment of Dr Kinyua for a further period of three years,” stated board chairman Paul Sang in the letter to Dr Kiome.

Evaluated performance

Prior to its recommendation, the board had evaluated the performance of the MD where she had scored an impressive 89.17 per cent and a mean of 4.47 out of the possible 5 points.

But in a surprising turn of events, the PS in his response to the board’s request said the ministry could not extend Kinyua’s term as she had served three terms at the corporation.

“In accordance with good corporate management practices, it is recommended that her term should not be renewed,” said the PS in a letter dated May 2, 2012, about six months after the board’s recommendation.

The move by the ministry attracted the attention of the Office of the President, which demanded to know on what policy they were acting on to turn down the recommendation by the board, which is tasked to give directions on re-appointment.

In a confidential letter obtained by The Standard dated June 13, this year, acting Head of Public Service Francis Kimemia directed the ministry to adhere to the board’s recommendations.

“In view of performance of the corporation, it is the position of the Government that the tenure of Dr Kinyua as chief executive be renewed in accordance with the decision of the Board of Directors,” stated Kimemia in a letter to Kiome.

But the Agriculture ministry failed to take the directive, prompting Kimemia to do a final terse letter to Kiome, with express direction from President Kibaki to re-appoint Kinyua.

Instead, Dr Kosgei appointed Mr Peter Kiplagat Korir as the MD.

But the process was temporarily stopped after Kinyua challenged the same at the Industrial court.

During her tenure, Kinyua emerged top several times in the Government’s performance contract rating, winning the best State Corporation award in 2008/2009.